dewey



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l. M. DEWEY. ELECTRIC FIRE ENGINE.

Patented Feb. 17,1891.

WITNESSES.

BY M 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. W. DEWEY.

ELECTRIC FIRE ENGINE.

Patented Feb. 17,1891

(No Model.)

m m Q E Wm J W M adT 1 III .5 AIR Q 5 1 o w o l q 0 W w W hm V. 6 w; .w7 L, H w e o w mg m m /I(\\ u i M r u B a Q R,

(Np' Model.) 3 SheetsSheeta 3.

M. W. DEWEY;

ELECTRIC FIRE ENGINE.-

N 44 ,703, Patented Feb. 17, 1891.

Fig. 3.

v INVENTOH,

ATTORNEYS.

llnrrnn STATES lament rricn.

MARK \V. DElVEY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE DEVEYCORPORATION, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC FIRE-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,703, dated February17, 1891.

Application filed July '7, 1890. Serial No. 357,979. (No model.)

To (0Z6 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK \V. DEWEY, of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Fire-En gines, (Case No. (35,) of which the following,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear,and exact description.

My invention relates to certain improvements in electrically-propelledvehicles, and also in electric fire-engines The obj ect of my inventionis to electrically propel an electric fire-engine to and from the tire,so that it will not be necessary to employ horses for this purpose, andto save the time heretofore lost in hitching them to the engine, as theelectricallypropelled engine is always ready to start at the instant thealarm is sounded and does not consume any energy while not in use.

The object of my invention, also, is to electrically steer anelectrically-propelled vehicle or a fire-engine, so that the vehicle maybe handled easily and be under the perfect control of the steersman.

To this end my invention consists in pro viding the electric fire-enginewith a second ary battery to be carried thereon to supply current to theelectric motor on the engine, and in providing means whereby theelectric motor on the engine for operating the pump may be disconnectedfrom the pump and connected to the engine to propel it when desired, asit is not necessary to operate the pump when the engine is beingpropelled to and from the fire. 7

My invention consists, also, in the arrangement of the motor on theengine to accommodate itself to the performance of its several dutiesand to allow a suitable place upon the engine for the battery.

My invention consists, further, in providing means upon the vehicle forsteering it electrically either by the propelling-motor or a separatemotor.

My invention consists, still further, in certain combinations of partshereinafter described, and specifically set forthin the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of myfire-engine with apart of the frame, the, broken away to show thegearing clearly. Fig. 2 is a plan view taken belov the body orreceptacle containing the battery and having certain parts broken awayto show the apparatus beneath them. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of theapparatus, circuits, and connections on the engine shown in Figs. 1 and2. Fig. at is a diagrammatic view of a modified form and arrangement ofthe apparatus, circuits, and connections for my improved fire-engine;and 5 is a view of the compensating gear employed.

In the drawings, A represents the electric motor, suitably secured toand supported by the frame B of the engine, but preferably entirelybelow the back axle O, to allow a battery-receptacle D to be placedabove said axle.

E is a double-acting reciprocating pistonpump fixed to the frameB aboutmidway between the two axles of the vehicle.

F is the gearing or mechanical connection between the motor A and axleO, and F is the gearing or mechanical connection between the said motorand the pump. In the said connection to and upon the axle I preferablyplace a well-known compensating gear 0 to facilitate in turning corners,but do not limit myself to any particular form of mechanical connectioneither between the motor and axle or between the motor and pump. Thesaid compensating gear is shown clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Onowheel V is sleeved upon and turns freely on the axle C, while the otherdriving-wheel is keyed fast. The latter is not shown in the figure. Abevelgear 0* is fixed to the hub of the wheel W, and a similar gear 1'is keyed to the driving-axle. Between these revolves a spur-gear s,which is driven by the motor A, and which carries two smallbevel-pinions t t, the latter engagin g both bevel-wheels'r and 0*,their axles being in the plane of the revolution of thelarge ICO greaterresistance on the inside wheel retards that, while the outer wheelnecessarily moves more rapidly over its longer path, and while the motorstill exerts the same force on both wheels the work done is distributedunequally between them through the then-revolving bevel-pinions withoutloss and without either wheel beingneeessarily slipped or disengaged.

G is a lever to operate the clutch mechanism on the motor-shaft a todisconnect the motor A from the pump and connect it with the axle G, orvice versa, when desired.

0' is the front axle of the engine. II is a fifth-wheel or circlerigidly or flexibly secured to said axle and having a rack h thereon fora gear-wheel to work in.

t' is an upright shaft extending upward from the gear-Wheel h to a largehand-wheel 4." directly in front of the steersn'ians seat I. Sleevedloosely upon the shaft i, but adapted to be fixed or keyed to the samewhen it is desired to steer or guide the vehicle electrically, is agear-wheel 7a, adapted to be rotated by an endless screw 70', fixed upona shaft Z, connected to the propelling-motoror an independent orseparate electric motor J beneath the seat 1.

Either of the electric motors may be started, stopped, or reversed whendesired, by means hereinafter described.

(1 is the electric circuit for supplying current to the motor A, andalso to the motor J when it is employed, and any other translatingdevices-as, for instance, the electric lamp 1). Said lamp 1) may beplaced in a shunt-circuit l) with an adjustable resistance 1)", and thesteering-motor J is also placed in a shunt-circuitj, including anadjustable resistance j, the said shunt extending around thepropelling-motor.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the motors are shown as being regulated orcontrolled in speed and direction by changing the position of thebrushes uponthe commutator-s of the motors in the Well-known manner notnecessary to be herein repeated.

In order that the steersman may control the motors A and J, pivoted.rods connect the brushes of the motors with levers A and J,conveniently located by the side of the seat I.

In the same figures themechanical connection from the motor to the axleis on one side of the motor, and the other connection, from the motor tothe pump, is on the opposite side of said motor, so that it is necessarywhen disconnecting one mechanism from and connecting the other mechanismto the motor by means of the lever G to shift the armatureslightlylengthwise or to provide a connection between the clutches e 0either around or through the armature, as shown. This connectionconsists of a shaft a, upon which the armature and the gear-wheels orpulleys c and f are sleeved, but not capable of movement in thedirection of the length of said shaft.

(1' is an adjustablercsistance and cut-off in the circuit of the motor Ato regulate the current passing thereto.

m is a circuit-breaker on the lever J, and 70 shown in Fig. 3, to holdthe circuitj open except when the handle is grasped by the operator.

In Fig. 4: both mechanical connections are on one and the same side ofthe motor A. The pulleys c and f are loose upon the motorshaft, and theclutches moved by G are fixed upon a sleeve that is turned by the shaftand is capable of longitudinal movement thereon to couple either of thepulleys to the shaft, as desired. In this figure the motors are shown asregulated and reversed by varying the strength of the current throughthem and changing its polarity through their. armatures. j and d are theadjustable resistances in circuit with the motors to vary the strengthof the currents and the speed of said motors, and j and r arecurrent-reversers in circuit with the motors to reverse the currentsthrough their armatures to change their direction of rotation whendesired. These adjustable resistances and current reversers, commonlycalled current-regulating devices, are located in place of the levers Aand J, or in a suitable position to be conveniently handled by theoperator in charge.

In Fig. 3 is also represented the flexible connections between the axleO and, the fifthwheel II.' Said flexible connections are shown as fourstiff springs it, two on each side of the mo axle, and serve to relievethe gearing from the sudden strains that it would otherwise be subjectedto in moving over rough pavements.

In Fig. 4 means are shown in dotted lines for steering the engine by thepropelling-ind [o5 tor A, and thus dispensing with the motor J.

To accomplish this the shaft Z is extended back to the motor A and isprovided at its rear end with a miter gear-wheel, which is placedbetween two other mitered gear-wheels 11o fixed to a counter-shaft ofthe said motor, which shaft can be moved longitudinally to throw eitherof its gear-wheels in gear with the gear-wheel on the shaft Z by meansof a lever 41., extending from the said counterr 15 shaft to the frontpart of the vehicle and pivoted to the frame B at 0. The axle C can I ecramped in either direction corresponding to the motement to the rightor left of the lever n, and the speed of rotation of the shaft Z may beregulated by regulating the speed of the motor A.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a vehicle having a motor mounted thereon, abattery carried upon or moving with said vehicle, an electric circuit onthe vehicle for supplying current. from said battery to the motor, apump r30 carried upon the vehicle, and means to connect said motoreither with the axle or wheels of the vehicle or with the pump, asdesired;

2. The combination of an electrically-propolled vehicle having anelectric motor mechanically connected with the axle or wheels thereof, asupply-circuit on the vehicle connected to the motor,a pump carried uponthe vehicle, and means to detach said motorfrom the axle or wheels andto connect said motor with the pump.

The combination, in an electrically-propelled vehicle, of an electricmotor, a mechanical connection between said motor and axle, acompensating gear in said connection connected with the wheels carriedby the axle to permit of their relative movement, and an electric-supplycircuit on the vehicle connected to the motor.

1. The combination of a vehicle, an electric motor supported thereon andcarried entirely beneath the back axle, and means whereby the motor canpropel the vehicle or drive a pump carried thereon.

In a portable fire-engine, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, anelectric-supply circuit, an electric motor on the vehicle in thecircuit, a double-acting reciprocating pistonpump supported upon theframe of the vehicle, and suitable; gearing connecting the motor withthe pump.

6. The combination, with an electricallypropelled vehicle, of asupply-circuit, an electric motor on said vehicle connected with thecircuit, and a steering mechanism for one of the axles mechanicallyconnected with the said motor.

7. In a portable fire-engine, the combination of a wheeled carriage, asecondary battery supported mostly by the back axle or wheels of thecarriage, an electric motor, electric connections between the batteryand motor, a pump mounted on the frame of the carriage, and asuitablemechanical connection between the said motor and pump.

8. The combination, in an electrically-propelled vehicle, of a batterycarried upon or moving with said vehicle, an electric motor, an electriccircuit on the vehicle for supplying current from said battery to themotor, and a steering apparatus for the vehicle operated by the saidmotor.

9. The combination of a wheeled vehicle, an electric motor supportedthereon and carried entirely beneath the back axle, a receptacle abovesaid axle containing a battery, an electric circuit on the vehicleincluding the battery and motor, and suitable connections or gearingbetween the motor and said axle.

10. The combination, with a wheeled vehicle, of an electric motorsupported and carried thereon, a receptacle containing a secondarybattery carried upon said vehicle, one of said elements being carriedabove the back axle and the other entirely beneath said axle, andsuitable devices whereby the motor can operate the wheels of said axle.

11. The combination, with a wheeled vehicle, an electric motor supportedand carried thereon, and a receptacle containing a secondary batterycarried upon said vehicle, one of said elements being carried above theback axle and the other entirely beneath said axle, of a pump carriedupon said vehicle and mechanically connected with the mot r.

12. The combination, with a \Gl'lhTlQ, of an electric-supply circuit onthe vehicle a motor connected with the supply'circuit and mechanicallyconnected with the vehicle to propel it, a second electric motor carriedon the vehicle and connected with the supply-circuit, and means to steerthe vehicle, connected with and operated by the said second motor.

13. The combination, with an electricallypropellcd vehicle, of anelectric motor, a pump upon said vehicle, means for mechanicallyconnecting the motor with the pump, and an electric steering apparatuson the vehicle to steer the latter.

ll. The combination, with an electricallypropelled vehicle, of a pumpcarried upon said vehicle and means to connect the propelling-motor withsaid pump to operate the same and to disconnect said motor from thevehicle, so that the latter will be at rest during the operation of thesaid pump.

15. The combination of an electrically-propelled vehicle, a pump carriedupon the ve hicle, an electric motor mounted upon the ve hicle, andsuitable means whereby said motor is connected to the pump or thedriving mechanism of the vehicle to propel the same or to drive thepump.

16. The combination,witl1 the axle of a ve hicle pivoted in the center,of an electric motor supported upon the frame of the vehicle andflexibly connected with the said axle to cramp it in either direction tosteer the vehicle.

17. The combination of an electrically-propelled vehicle having anelectric motor mechanically connected with the axle or wheels thereof, asupply-circuit on the vehicle connected to the motor, a pump carriedupon the vehicle, and means to detach said motor from the axle or wheelsand to simultaneously c011- nect said motor with the pump.

18. In a portable fire-engine, the combination of a wheeled vehicle, anelectric-supply circuit, a double-acting reciprocating pistonpumpsupported in a vertical or nearly verti. cal position between the axlesof the vehicle, an electric motor in the supply-circuit on the vehicle,and suitable means whereby said motor is connected to the pump or thedriving mechanism of the vehicle to propel the same or to drive thepump.

19. The combination, with the axle of a vehicle pivoted in the center,of an electric motor supported upon the frame of the vehicle andconnected with the said a'xle to cramp it in either direction to steerthe vehicle.

20. The combination, in an electrically-propelled vehicle, of anelectric motor mounted on the vehicle, an axle, Wheels on said axleadapted to be turned independently of each other or with differentdegrees of speed, and

suitable connections between the motor and the wheels to permit of therelative movement of said wheels.

21. The combination, in an electrically-propelled vehicle, of anelectric motor mounted on the vehicle, a compensating gear suitablyconnected to two of the wheels of the vehicle, and suitable mechanicalconnections or gearing between the said compensating gear and motor topermit of the relative movement of said wheels, for the purposedescribed.

22. The combination of a wheeled vehicle, an electric motor supportedthereon and earried entirely below the line of the axis of the wheels,means whereby the motor can propel the vehicle, and a body or receptacleabove but in close proximity to the axle.

23. The combination of a wheeled vehicle, an electric motor supportedthereon and carried entirely below the line of the axis of the wheels,areceptacle above said line of axis containing a battery, an electriccircuit on the vehicle including the battery and motor, and a suitableconnection or gearing between the motor and the said axle.

24. The combination, with a wheeled vehicle, of an electric motorsupported and carried thereon, a receptacle containing a secondarybattery carried upon said vehicle, one

of said elements being carried above the back axle and the otherentirely beneath said axle, a pump mounted on the vehicle, and suitabledevices whereby the motor can propel the vehicle or drive the pump.

25. The combination, in an electrically-propelled vehicle, of anelectric motor mounted thereon, a mechanical connection between saidmotor and two wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle, means or devicesin said connection to permit of the relative movement of the saidwheels, and an electric-supply circuit on the vehicle connected to themotor.

20. In a portable fire-engine, the combination of a wheeled carriage, areceptacle supported upon the carriage, a secondary battery within thereceptacle,.an electric motor on the carriage, electric connectionsbetween the battery and the motor, a pump mounted on the frame of thecarriage, and a suitable mechanical connection between the said motorand pump.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 3d day of July,1890.

MARK V. DElVEY. [L. Witnesses:

O. H. DUELL, H. M. SEAMANS.

